The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

Mark Twain's engaging novel about Tom Sawyer, a young, mischievous boy with a nose for trouble and a heart of gold. One of the most enduring American novels, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is a jaunty, free-wheeling story that exemplifies the life of a young boy on the frontier in the mid 1800s.

I decided to give one of the great American classics a try and I wasn't disappointed however I did expect more depth and substance. Overall it is an enjoyable boyhood story with a slow beginning, but the 2nd half picks up the pace and is worth the wait. The narrator does a solid job and I have no complaints about his performance. I would recommend this book to others, and I intend to follow up with Huck Finns book too.

This book is even better than the first in the series! The first book focused mainly on political strife and diplomatic exchanges. Book 2 is war from start to finish, leading us through France's collapse to the invasion of Russia, with gripping details outlining each decision Churchill made. Yet again, cant wait to read the next book in the series!Christian Rodska is great as Winston Churchill

The Second World War: Milestones to Disaster

Churchill's history of the Second World War is, and will remain, the definitive work. Lucid, dramatic, remarkable for its breadth and sweep and for its sense of personal involvement, it is universally acknowledged as a magnificent reconstruction.

I have never enjoyed learning about history as much as this! I recently listened to another performance by Christian Rodska (Fear Index) so I was worried that the narration may not have a big impact on me. I was wrong! He is perfect to read Churchill in everyway. The greatest thing about reading non fiction is how easy it is to relate to 'characters' because you know they're real people making real life decisions. Not only is Churchill a real person but he was THE person in a perfect position to give an amazing overview of one of the most important events in modern history. Being able to follow his path through so many extraordinary situations and visualize his process of making national decisions that shaped the world today is a privilege. I lived in the UK for most of my life so I am well schooled in WW2, or so I thought. So many details, both big and small, are brought to light in Churchill's personal account of the build up to the war. After I finished this book, I immediately got the 2nd book to carry on the experience ... and I'm looking forward to finishing the complete series!This is definitely one of my favorite non fiction books/series of all time.

Dave Gorman Vs The Rest of the World

Remember when you were a kid, and you used to go round to a friend's house to see if they were playing? Well, as adults we're not supposed to do that. Which is a shame... because Dave Gorman likes playing. He REALLY likes games. So he knocked on the biggest door you could ever imagine - the internet - and asked 76,000 people if they fancied a game. This is the story of what happened next.

If you could sum up Dave Gorman Vs The Rest of the World in three words, what would they be?

Hilarious, fascinating and frivolous

What did you like best about this story?

Dave Gorman's story telling abilities are no secret, however if you are unfamiliar with them I suggest you go watch him live, or just grab googlewhack. This particular book is essentially a series of encounters with people, but it never feels disconnected. The journey flows with anticipation of who will he meet next and what will they play, as well as what odd situation will occur that will keep me wanting to listen to just a bit more.

Have you listened to any of Dave Gorman’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes, it is as great as the rest.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Not really, but many moments had me moving with laughter ... if that counts.

Through My Eyes

Over the course of the last five years, Tim Tebow established himself as one of the greatest quarterbacks in the history of college football and a top prospect in the NFL. During that time he amassed an unparalleled resume - winning two BCS national championships; becoming the first sophomore in NCAA history to win the Heisman trophy; and in the face of massive public scrutiny, being drafted in the first round of the NFL draft by the Denver Broncos.

Ready Player One

At once wildly original and stuffed with irresistible nostalgia, Ready Player One is a spectacularly genre-busting, ambitious, and charming debut—part quest novel, part love story, and part virtual space opera set in a universe where spell-slinging mages battle giant Japanese robots, entire planets are inspired by Blade Runner, and flying DeLoreans achieve light speed.

Yes, and I have. A story about a computer game doesn't sound too good until you add Wil Wheaton and 80s nostalgia. There are many great parts in this book but its the sections inbetween that makes this book re-listenable.

What other book might you compare Ready Player One to and why?

I have never read another book like this, but there are the usual cyberspace style titles for comparison: Snow Crash, For The Win, Daemon, etc etc. The problem is this book is unique because it is a mash up of futuristic nostalgia and cybergaming reality, and its actually accessible to non hard core sci fi fans.

What does Wil Wheaton bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He brings everything to it, I'm 100% glad I listened to this rather than reading it. It was easy to feel his enthusiasm for the story and its characters.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

The Fear Index

Dr. Alex Hoffmann’s name is carefully guarded from the general public, but within the secretive inner circles of the ultrarich he is a legend. He has developed a revolutionary form of artificial intelligence that predicts movements in the financial markets with uncanny accuracy. His hedge fund, based in Geneva, makes billions. But one morning before dawn, a sinister intruder breaches the elaborate security of his lakeside mansion, and so begins a waking nightmare of paranoia and violence.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

Most interesting was the initial believability of the plot, which starts out strong then stumbles to its conclusion. Least interesting was the character development, most of which is shallow at best.

What does Christian Rodska bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

A very good choice for this particular book, he has a rich sounding voice that is apt for this particular book.

Did The Fear Index inspire you to do anything?

Go back to non fiction for a while!

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed the Fear Index for more than 50% of it but I felt it could have been better. Perhaps I would have liked it more if I had better knowledge of the subject matter, not that it was discussed in great detail.

11-22-63: A Novel

On November 22, 1963, three shots rang out in Dallas, President Kennedy died, and the world changed. What if you could change it back? In this brilliantly conceived tour de force, Stephen King - who has absorbed the social, political, and popular culture of his generation more imaginatively and thoroughly than any other writer - takes listeners on an incredible journey into the past and the possibility of altering it.

Fantasy twist on a real historic event that everyone has at least some knowledge of

Have you listened to any of Craig Wasson’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

It is much too long for 1 sitting but I felt that I more than got my credit worth

Any additional comments?

I had never read a Stephen King novel until 11-22-63 and was a bit apprehensive at first as I thought, especially with the subject matter of this book, it would be overly political. It has its political moments of course but most of them are in keeping with the story and help flesh out the characters motives. I thoroughly enjoyed Kings exceptional scene setting descriptions which are brought to life by narrator Craig Wasson. The narrator's ability to deliver seamless dialogue between multiple characters draws you deeper and deeper into the world of ago.

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